This whole topic sounds like the title for a movie: ‘Dinner with a Dancer!’ After much deliberation I’ve decided NOT to have dinner with a dancer because I wouldn’t enjoy myself with someone who has it in the back of her mind that her body will be floating in the river.

_________________The world revolves around the beauty of the ballerina.

Oh, I forgot: dancers are invertebrate physical slaves with no minds of their own, so you couldn't possibly be interested in having a conversation with one. We're just pretty objects that people want to touch and we're so helpless that we can't stand up for ourselves. Last time I checked the Hallion club was such a nice place that I was a fully paid-up member of it, so, in the case I, or Soon Ja, encounter any unwanted company while there, the staff will be more than happy to escort the dirty mac out in the most polite manner while we carry on with our highly likely excellent dinner.more

There's some funny stuff that I'm not sure I can quote because of this board's intended audience, but the link is there for you to find out.

Azlan and I discussed this briefly when he was down here to see the Hamburg Ballet, and I think he had a nice compromise: make it a double-date, so to speak. Have two dancers (or a dancer and a companion) meet with two donors (or a donor and companion), so the dancers will feel a bit more secure in having a friend around, and it's more of a friendly social thing.

I am a little late to the party but a couple of observations. I think age is an important factor. If there is a woman donor in her 80s who wants to meet and have dinner with a 35 y/o male principl dancer , and a donation may be associated with that, then I don't think there is too much wrong with that picture. If, however, it was a fifty year old donor who wants to meet all of the new 18 y/o corps dancers - well, that would be pretty suspect to me, and I think the company has an obligation not to put their dancers in that situation.

I think there just has to be a little judgement. First , most men and women dancers in their thirties are pretty sharp socially, and I don't think they either want or need protecting from big brother. Heck, it is probably the donors that need protecting from them.

Second, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize with the company members , whether its backstage, at talks, at fund raisers etc. , I have a mailbox full of these type of invitations, and I don't see too much wrong in paying to go to a fundraiser etc. but trust me, these events can be just as stressful for the donors as the dancers!

But third, I think that just because you have turned 18 you haven't necessarily become a man or a woman who is capable of handling delicate social/work/donation situations. I would have a real problem with a 18 year old corps member being expected to have private or semi-private dinner dates with donors. However, it would be my expectation that the older principals interact socially with the key donors -and that can certainly be discussed at a contractual level with them each individually . My hope is that the trustees or board provide sufficient oversight to avoid conflicts.

( By the way, I believe the Yankees baseball players have certain contractually obligated social and charity obligations, but perhaps after the first first 10 million or so a year the bar can be raised a little! )

I totally agree with you about the age and status of participants involved. I agree that an 18 y/o corps member is not equipped to deal with a situation that could turn "uncomfortable" and a companies development staff should never put such a young dancer in a situation like that. However an older principal or soloist that has been around events for several seasons will be much more able to keep control of a donor situation.

When I worked at a pro company, we were all VERY aware of which dancers were able and willing to be put in donor situations like these. It had everything to do with personality, articulateness, ambition, maturity regardless of age, and poise. Some dancers are simply unable to ever handle donor events of any kind. Others can get $10,000 out of a patron in a 10 minute conversation.

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